The Child and Family Agency was established on 1st January 2014 and is responsible for a range of statutory functions including provision of child protection, alternative care, specified regulatory services and a range of family support services. The Agency has commenced a major improvement programme with significant focus on Practice, Culture and Structure.

The Agency currently has responsibility for a budget of circa €1.2billion and delivers its services through over 5,500 people in 259 locations across the Country.
The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Parenting, Family Support and Early Help Services
• Alternative Care
• Birth Information & Tracing and Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie
The office of the Chief Social Worker was set up following the appointment of the Chief Social Worker in 2018 and involves learning from practice, supporting practice, and supporting improving practice including:

• The Tusla lead on the development and implementation of Barnahus in Ireland in collaboration with state agencies to provide an integrated and coordinated response to child sexual abuse.
• Oversight and development of supports for recruitment and retention of social workers and social care workers in the agency from the practice perspective in Tusla. This includes development and maintenance of the Empowering Practitioners in Practice Initiative supporting evidence-based practice in Tusla
• Oversight of the National Child Care Information System and the new Tusla Case Management system including active liaison with Local Area Teams in each of the 17 Areas of Tusla
• Engagement with staff, other Tusla services in development of practice-based initiatives that identify good practice and build practice in the agency to achieve this.

Barnahus is the leading European model of a child-friendly multidisciplinary response and is established in Ireland to integrate health, medical, child protection, therapeutic, and policing services for children and adolescents where there is a concern of, or disclosure of child sexual abuse. Barnahus aims to improve Ireland’s multidisciplinary interagency response to child sexual exploitation and abuse Barnahus West is located in Galway, Barnahus South in Cork and Barnahus East, soon to be operationalised will be in Dublin. Tusla is the lead agency for Barnahus Ireland. Tusla coordinates the MDIA of Barnahus Ireland. Tusla have responsibility for the Therapy Room and Joint Specialist interviewers at Barnahus West and South. CHI have shared responsibility with the HSE/SATU for the Medical Room in Barnahus East; CHI have responsibility for the Therapy Room, with responsibility for Specialist interviewers in Barnahus East shared between CHI and Tusla. The AGS have responsibility for the Criminal Investigation room in Barnahus East.

Key components of the Barnahus model are child protection services, forensic medical and medical services, joint specialist interviewing (according to evidence-based protocols), and therapeutic services. The Barnahus model is a multi-disciplinary and interagency intervention responding to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) that is delivered in a child-friendly setting. The model offers forensic interviews for children from 3 to 18 years of age that are carried out according to an evidence based protocol; medical evaluation for forensic investigative purposes as well as to ensure the child’s physical well-being and recovery; psychological support, short term therapeutic services for trauma to the child and non-offending family members and caretakers; and assessment of protection needs of the child victim and siblings in the family (Promise Project 2015).
Further information is available on www.barnahus.ie and https://barnahus.eu/ https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/barnahus-ireland

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Professional

• Advance the vision and mission of Barnahus Ireland.
• Work with partner agencies to ensure adherence to the Barnahus quality Standards.
• Develop and manage the operational tasks of the Barnahus East in collaboration with partner agencies.
• Collaborate with other agencies, service providers and representatives of service users to ensure the delivery of an integrated and comprehensive Barnahus interagency model of care. 
• Ensure the effective operation of the Barnahus in integration with relevant services provided by Tusla, An Garda Siochana, CHI and the HSE.
• Assist in the implementation of processes to advance Specialist Interviewing and allocation of Joint Specialist interviewing in the region of Barnahus East.
• Ensure the effective operation of the Barnahus East in integration with Tusla Child Protection and Welfare and Tusla Therapy and commissioned services.
• In consultation with Barnahus partner agencies, develop and implement formal review and evaluation processes of Barnahus.
• Be responsible for the collation, analysis and reporting of Barnahus East data.
• Provide professional leadership and support to Barnahus Tusla staff.
• Provide specialist consultation and support to partner agencies and stakeholders.
• Attend for regular supervision within the framework of the supervision policy of The Child and Family Agency.
• Provide testimony if called upon as a witness on behalf of Barnahus East.
• Ensure that Barnahus policy and procedures adhere to ‘Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children’.
• Develop and build strong alliances with other heads of services, professionals, specialist services, community, and voluntary organisations in the regional areas to ensure that children and young people can avail of integrated quality care.
• As required, undertake direct work with children and families at Barnahus East.
• Represent Barnahus in public and professional forums relating to Barnahus and child sexual abuse.
• Chair, and/or participate in regional and national forums as appropriate in the development and implementation of Barnahus and/or sexual abuse / exploitation-based services.
• Ensure that the assessment of the young person’s needs is multi-disciplinary and completed in consultation with the child/young person, their family social work team and the wider professional network to include other appropriate stakeholders such as CHI, AGS, HSE ensuring that the best interests of the child are paramount.
• Work closely with the Tusla Regional Therapy Manager to ensure integration, co-ordination and management of Tusla Therapy services with reference to the Barnahus Therapeutic Framework.
• Work closely with Tusla Commissioning to ensure that the total resources available to children and families are applied to improving outcomes in the most efficient, effective, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way.
• Ensure that each young person accepted as an appropriate referral has a robust assessment of their needs and an individual therapeutic plan that is developed, delivered and reviewed in collaboration and partnership with the relevant stakeholders, in line with Barnahus Quality Standards.
• Coordinate and chair Barnahus multi-disciplinary interagency meetings (MDIA) or designate as appropriate.
• Ensure that the delivery of Barnahus is in accordance with the relevant legislation, policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines. Lead on the identification of any further policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines which may be required.
• Develop and build strong alliances with other heads of services, professionals, specialist services, community and voluntary organisations in the region to ensure that children and young people can avail of integrated quality care.
• Work with the Barnahus team to lead on an innovative and creative approach to service delivery.
• Lead the implementation of audit and quality initiatives and evaluate the outcomes of service provision.
• Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence at individual and service levels.
• Provide as required information, professional advice and guidance to IDG, BNASC, Steering groups and guidance to Senior Tusla Management for the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of Barnahus services.

Management

• Have full responsibility and accountability for managing the Barnahus East model of care.
• Be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Barnahus model in the Barnahus East including health, safety and welfare needs of staff as well as service users.
• Ensure effective governance arrangements are established and liaise with other regional Barnahus Managers regarding ongoing the effective governance structures.
• Liaise with partner organisations (CHI, AGS, CHI) to ensure that inter agency agreements and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are reviewed and adhered to.
• Liaise with Tusla staff, staff representative organisations and employee relations department on service/staff issues in line with current Tusla policy.
• Oversee the implementation of an appropriate performance management system for the delivery of a high-quality model of care by Tusla staff.
• Manage the delegated budget for the day-to-day operation of Barnahus in line with the relevant financial regulations. Liaise with the partner Barnahus managers regarding the allocation of budget towards training and equipment as required.
• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, and service planning and budgetary control in liaison with partner managers.
• Keep updated on current and impending legislation and its perceived impact on practice.
• Keep abreast of and ensure service delivery corresponds to developments in national policies and strategies and best national and international practice.
• Keep up to date with national and organisational developments in Tusla.
• Keep updated on current and impending legislation and its perceived impact on the service.
• Provide service delivery reports as required e.g. service plan, annual reports.
• In consultation and collaboration with CHI as service provider with accountability/ governance for Therapy services in Barnahus East, coordinate evaluation of therapy service provided to children attending Barnahus East to facilitate improved services and integrated care.
• Implement strategies in liaison with partner managers to ensure that there is maximum child and youth participation in the planning, delivery and evaluation of the Barnahus model of care.
• Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation including service user files in accordance with local policy and relevant legislation, Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection legislation as they apply to the service user and service administration.
• Engage in IT developments as required.
• Manage PQ’s, complaints, incidents, health and safety matters in liaison with partner agencies in the Barnahus East.
• Ensure there are robust child safeguarding processes in place for Barnahus East.
• Promote a culture of shared respect, commitment and participation amongst all staff working in Barnahus East.
• Keep abreast of, and ensure, service delivery corresponds to developments in national policies and strategies and best national and international practice.
• Keep up-to-date with national and organisational developments in Tusla, Barnahus Ireland and partner agencies in Barnahus.
• Provide service delivery reports as required e.g., service plan, annual reports.
• Undertake responsibility for service evaluation to facilitate improved services and integrated care.
• Implement strategies for management of change.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.

Education and Training

• Be responsible for implementation of strategy and policy on practice development, education and professional duties for the staff directly employed by Tusla.
• Ensure that professional development requirements are met by Barnahus East team members by communication and liaison with partner agencies in Barnahus East.
• Ensure that Barnahus Child Safeguarding, statements, training and requirements are met by Barnahus East members by communication and liaison with partner agencies in Barnahus East.
• Ensure that each Barnahus East team member employed by Tusla has an individual Personal Development Plan (new name for this!) which will inform the overall team training needs analysis in line with the Tusla National Strategy for Continuing Professional Development and Barnahus training needs.
• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and ensure compliance with statutory registration requirements for all reporting staff.
• Be informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice and ensure their dissemination amongst Barnahus staff.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service for example National Standards for Child Protection and Care and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

• Current Professional Qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Social Care, Addiction or Occupational Therapy. Relevant disciplines must be registered with CORU where there is a professional requirement to register.

OR

• Be a qualified Nurse - registered in the Relevant Division of the Register of Nurses kept by An Bord Altranais (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) or have entitlement to be registered and obtain registration prior to appointment.

AND

• 5 years relevant post qualification experience

AND

• Experience of managing a professional or clinical team

AND

• Must have the requisite and knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, professional and managerial experience) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.